Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut, but didn’t want to have to go through the rigorous training? Would you maybe prefer a relaxing trip into space versus the regimented life of experiments and science completed by astronauts on the International Space Station? Do you have more money than you know what to do with? If you answered yes to these questions, today may just be your lucky day. Orion Span is a company comprised of veterans in the space industry who are hoping to launch Aurora Station, the first-ever luxury space hotel. They’re accepting fully-refundable deposits now, and are hoping to be open to guests in 2022.

The idea and vision behind Aurora Station is really very cool. The proposed station will be able to accommodate six people at any one time, including two crew members. Visitors will be taken on a twelve day cruise quite literally around the world (and around and around), as the station will orbit the Earth every 90 minutes. Really, the whole experience sounds pretty fantastic:

During their stay on Aurora Station, travelers will enjoy the exhilaration of zero gravity and fly freely throughout Aurora Station, gaze at the northern and southern aurora through the many windows, soar over their hometowns, take part in research experiments such as growing food while in orbit (which they can take home with them as the ultimate souvenir), revel in a virtual reality experience on the holodeck, and stay in touch or live stream with their loved ones back home via high-speed wireless Internet access. While in space, Aurora Station guests will soar 200 miles above the Earth’s surface in Low Earth Orbit, or LEO, where they will find stunning views of the Earth.

The company even promises a heroes welcome for guests returning to Earth after their stay. While guests won’t need to complete the entire training regimen that NASA astronauts need to endure, they will be put through an abridged 3 month course prior to departure. The first part of the training can even be completed online, making things that much easier.

Orion Span isn’t stopping with a simple hotel though, Aurora Station is meant to be modular, with the possibility of adding dedicated modules that could serve as condominiums in space. I don’t even want to know how much one of those would cost.

Speaking of cost, that deposit that I mentioned earlier? That’ll set you back $80,000 USD, and can be handled via the Orion Span website. Once they’re ready to launch, the full 12 day trip will be available for the low, low price of $9.5 million USD. Better start saving your pennies now. You can read more about Orion Span and the Aurora Station specifically at the source link below.

What do you think? Would you want to spend some time in a luxury space hotel? Are you signing up for the Aurora Station deposit list now? Do you have $9.5 million USD that I could have? Let us know in the comment section below, or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

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